South Korean President Un Suk Yeol revoked martial law within hours of its imposition. He announced his withdrawal in a televised speech at around 4:30 am local time today.
South Korea's main opposition party, meanwhile, has demanded President Un's resignation and accused him of 'rebellion'. Even his own party People Power Party is not with him. Calling his efforts to impose martial law deplorable, his party demanded that those involved be held accountable.
This information was reported in the BBC report.
President Un said that the National Assembly has demanded the withdrawal of martial law. Deployed military forces have been withdrawn through a cabinet meeting in compliance with the demands of the National Assembly.
Before this, the president announced martial law on national television yesterday at 11 pm. In his speech, he said, the threat of North Korea's communist forces and the activities of anti-state elements pose a serious threat to South Korea's security. In this situation, there was no other option but to impose martial law to preserve the constitutional order of the country.
The country's 190 ministers and general public appeared in front of the parliament building in the capital Seoul to protest the declaration of martial law. The president was forced to withdraw martial law when ministers voted against it in the National Assembly.
In the announcement of martial law, many people thought that a national security crisis like North Korea, terrorism or a military coup had been created. North Korea's military aggression against South Korea and the activities of its spy network have long been a cause for concern.
While President Un has not clearly stated the reason for the martial law, political analysts say he is referring to North Korea's threats, but the reasons are unclear and could have a negative impact on rising tensions between the North and the South. However, North Korea has not yet commented on the martial law.
Meanwhile, the unexpected move to impose martial law in South Korea for the first time in more than four decades has raised concerns among the US and the country's other allies. Despite the immediate relief that martial law will soon be lifted, it is certain that South Korea's democratic stability will remain under the international community's eye for the foreseeable future.
In an immediate response, Washington said that the White House expressed relief at the President's decision to lift martial law. Britain and Germany said they were closely monitoring the situation in South Korea.
Martial law was last enacted in South Korea in 1979. Martial law was imposed when President Pak Chung Hee, who had ruled the country for 20 years, was killed in a military coup. After the country returned to a democratic system in 1987, such steps were not taken again.
